Automatic sandal manufacturing and vending device

ABSTRACT

An automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to the present invention comprises a sole housing portion housing a plurality of soles for sandals according to a plurality of sizes, an upper housing portion housing a plurality of uppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes, a size selecting portion for a user to select a desirable size of soles and uppers, a size selecting portion for a user to select a desirable size of soles and uppers, a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation for manufacturing and vending desirable sandals, an attaching mechanism portion for attaching uppers desired by a user to soles desired by the user, and a sandal ejecting portion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the soles by the attaching mechanism portion into a takeout opening from which a user can take out the same, and these are housed in a housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an automatic manufacturing-vendingmachine for sandals which is installed near a bathing beach or pool andenables sea bathers and the like to easily obtain sandals of theirchoice on the spot.

BACKGROUND ART

Priorly, box-type automatic rental shoe vending machines have beeninstalled in bowling alleys. These automatic rental shoe vendingmachines are constructed, for example, so that a plurality ofsize-to-size shoe storing sections are provided in a box-type housingsimilar to an automatic beverage vending machine, respectivesize-by-size shoes are stored in plurality in the respective shoestoring sections, and when a user inserts coins into a coin slot afterspecifying a shoe size on a touch panel, which also serves as a displaypanel, a shoe storing drum corresponding to a shoe storing section inwhich shoes of the specified size have been stored is selected, the shoestoring drum is rotated by a drive means, and shoes of the desired sizeare picked up out of the shoe storing section and are slid down into ashoe takeout opening (See Japanese Patent No. 2978102, for example.).

In addition, priorly, known is a service which allows a user to access afootwear distributor's site placed on the Internet, wherein when theuser specifies a type of footwear such as shoes (women's shoes, men'sshoes, children's shoes and the like), a size, and a form such as abasic type, a color, a heel, an upper, and accessories while looking ata screen and places an order as if it is a custom-made product, thedistributor receives the order and manufactures the shoes, and deliversthe same by a home delivery service or the like (See Japanese PublishedUnexamined Patent Application No. 2002-63428, for example.).

However, the aforementioned automatic shoe rental machines are only forrental shoes in bowling alleys and the like and not for manufacturingand selling desired shoes for users who desire shoes immediately on thespot. In addition, the aforementioned service for receiving orders forshoes at a shoe distributor's site on the Internet is merely provided toplace a conventional order for custom-made-like footwear by way of theInternet and is not for manufacturing and selling desired footwear tousers who desire footwear immediately on the spot.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of such problems in priorarts, and an object thereof is to provide an automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals which is capable ofmanufacturing and selling, to a user who needs sandals on a site such asa bathing beach or pool, sandals of a size, type, or color desired bythe user immediately on the spot.

In order to solve such problems in prior arts, an automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to the presentinvention comprises: a sole housing portion housing a plurality of solesfor sandals according to a plurality of sizes; a sole pickup portion forpicking up soles of a predetermined size out of the plurality of soleshoused in the sole housing portion; an upper housing portion housing aplurality of uppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes; anupper pickup portion for picking up uppers of a predetermined size outof the plurality of uppers housed in the upper housing portion; a sizeselecting portion for a user to select a desirable size of soles anduppers; a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation formanufacturing and vending desirable sandals; a control means forcontrolling the sole pickup portion and the upper pickup portion so asto pick up soles and uppers of a size selected by a user out of the solehousing portion and the upper housing portion, respectively, based on asignal from the size selecting portion or the compensation inputtingportion; an attaching mechanism portion for attaching the picked-upuppers to the picked-up soles based on a signal from the control meansof the compensation paying portion; and a sandal ejecting portion forejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the soles by theattaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeout opening from which auser can take out the same, wherein the sole housing portion, the upperhousing portion, the sole pickup portion, the upper pickup portion, theattaching mechanism portion, and the sandal ejecting portion are housedin one housing.

In addition, an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention comprises: a sole housing portionhousing a plurality of soles for sandals according to a plurality ofsizes; a sole pickup portion for picking up soles of a predeterminedsize out of the plurality of soles housed in the sole housing portion;an upper housing portion housing a plurality of uppers for sandalsaccording to a plurality of sizes and a plurality of types; an upperpickup portion for picking up uppers of a predetermined size and typeout of the plurality of uppers housed in the upper housing portion; asize and type selecting portion for a user to select a desirable sizeand type of soles and uppers; a compensation paying portion for a userto pay compensation for manufacturing and vending desirable sandals; acontrol means for controlling the sole pickup portion and the upperpickup portion so as to pick up soles of a size selected by a user outof the sole housing portion and pick up uppers of a size and typeselected by a user from the upper housing portion based on a signal fromthe size and type selecting portion or the compensation inputtingportion; an attaching mechanism portion for attaching the picked-upuppers to the picked-up soles based on a signal from the control meansof the compensation paying portion; and a sandal ejecting portion forejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the soles by theattaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeout opening from which auser can take out the same, wherein the sole housing portion, the upperhousing portion, the sole pickup portion, the upper pickup portion, theattaching mechanism portion, and the sandal ejecting portion are housedin one housing.

In addition, an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention comprises: a sole housing portionhousing a plurality of soles for sandals according to a plurality ofsizes and a plurality of colors; a sole pickup portion for picking upsoles of a predetermined size and color out of the plurality of soleshoused in the sole housing portion; an upper housing portion housing aplurality of uppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes and aplurality of colors; an upper pickup portion for picking up upperportions of a predetermined size and color out of the plurality ofuppers housed in the upper housing portion; a size and color selectingportion for a user to select a desirable size and color of soles anduppers; a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation formanufacturing and vending desirable sandals; a control means forcontrolling the sole pickup portion and the upper pickup portion so asto pick up soles and uppers of a size and color selected by a user outof the sole housing portion and the upper housing portion, respectively,based on a signal from the size and color selecting portion or thecompensation inputting portion; an attaching mechanism portion forattaching the picked-up uppers to the picked-up soles based on a signalfrom the control means of the compensation paying portion; and a sandalejecting portion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers tothe soles by the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeoutopening from which a user can take out the same, wherein the solehousing portion, the upper housing portion, the sole pickup portion, theupper pickup portion, the attaching mechanism portion, and the sandalejecting portion are housed in one housing.

In addition, an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention comprises: a beltlike-body housingportion housing beltlike bodies for forming soles for sandals of aplurality of sizes; an upper housing portion housing a plurality ofuppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes; an upper pickupportion for picking up uppers of a predetermined size out of theplurality of uppers housed in the upper housing portion; a sole sizeselecting portion for a user to select a desirable size of soles; anupper size selecting portion for a user to select a desirable size ofuppers; a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation formanufacturing and vending desirable sandals; a cutout portion forcutting out a beltlike body from the beltlike-body housing portion intoforms of the size of soles selected by a user based on a signal from thesize and type selecting portion or the compensation inputting portion; acontrol means for controlling the upper pickup portion so as to pick upuppers of a size selected by a user out of the upper housing portionbased on a signal from the upper size selecting portion or thecompensation inputting portion; an attaching mechanism portion forattaching uppers picked up out of the upper housing portion to soles cutout by the cutout portion based on a signal from the cutout portion, thecontrol portion, or the compensation paying portion; and a sandalejecting portion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers tothe soles by the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeoutopening from which a user can take out the same, wherein thebeltlike-body housing portion, the upper housing portion, the upperpickup portion, the cutout portion, the attaching mechanism portion, andthe sandal ejecting portion are housed in one housing.

In addition, an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention comprises: a beltlike-body housingportion housing beltlike bodies for forming soles for sandals of aplurality of sizes and types; an upper housing portion housing aplurality of uppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes and aplurality of types; an upper pickup portion for picking up uppers of apredetermined size and type out of the plurality of uppers housed in theupper housing portion; a size and type selecting portion for a user toselect a desirable size of soles and a desirable size and type ofuppers; a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation formanufacturing and vending desirable sandals; a cutout portion forcutting out a beltlike body from the beltlike-body housing portion intoforms of the size of soles selected by a user; a control means forcontrolling the upper pickup portion so as to pick up uppers of a sizeand type selected by a user out of the upper housing portion based on asignal from the size and type selecting portion or the compensationinputting portion; an attaching mechanism portion for attaching upperspicked up out of the upper housing portion to soles cut out by thecutout portion based on a signal from the cutout portion, the controlportion, or the compensation paying portion; and a sandal ejectingportion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the solesby the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeout opening fromwhich a user can take out the same, wherein the beltlike-body housingportion, the upper housing portion, the upper pickup portion, the cutoutportion, the attaching mechanism portion, and the sandal ejectingportion are housed in one housing.

In addition, in the automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention, it is preferable to provide: a solecolor selecting portion for a user to select a desirable sole color; anupper color selecting portion for a user to select a desirable uppercolor; a sole coloring portion for coloring, based on a signal from thesole color selecting portion, soles selectively picked out of the solehousing portion with a color selected by a user (for example, sprayingor applying a paint of that color); and an upper coloring portion forcoloring, based on a signal from the upper color selecting portion,uppers selectively picked out of the upper housing portion with a colorselected by a user (for example, spraying or applying a paint of thatcolor).

In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable to furtherprovide: a sole image forming portion for a user to select or externallyimport a desirable print image of soles; and a sole printing portion forprinting an image selected by a user on soles selectively picked out ofthe sole housing portion based on a signal from the sole image formingportion.

In addition, in the automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention, it is preferable to provide: a solecolor selecting portion for a user to select a desirable sole color; anupper color selecting portion for a user to select a desirable uppercolor; a sole coloring portion for coloring, based on a signal from thesole color selecting portion, soles selectively picked out of the solehousing portion or soles obtained by being cut out from thebeltlike-body by the cutout portion with a color selected by a user (forexample, spraying or applying a paint of that color); and an uppercoloring portion for coloring, based on a signal from the upper colorselecting portion, uppers selectively picked out of the upper housingportion with a color selected by a user (for example, spraying orapplying a paint of that color).

In addition, in the automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention, it is preferable to provide: apacking portion for enclosing, before sandals formed by attaching theuppers to the soles by the attaching mechanism portion are ejected,sandals in a container such as a bag or a box.

Furthermore, in the automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to the present invention, it is preferable that, in thehousing, a display portion for displaying images to serve a user inselecting a sole color, an upper color, or an upper type is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a construction of anautomatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external appearance view of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 are explanatory views for explaining operations of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 are explanatory views for explaining operations of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for explaining an example of operation ofEmbodiment 1.

FIG. 6 are explanatory views for explaining another example of operationof Embodiment 1.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining still another example ofoperation of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a construction of anautomatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according toEmbodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a construction of anautomatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according toEmbodiment 3.

FIG. 10 are explanatory views for explaining operations of Embodiment 3of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram showing an electricalconstruction of an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandalsaccording to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, 1 denotes an order start buttonattached to the surface of a housing, which is an order start button fora user to press first when he/she orders sandals of his/her choice byuse of Embodiment 1, 2 denotes a type selecting and inputting portionfor a user to select and input a type (upper type) of desirable sandals,3 is a sole color selecting and inputting portion for a user to selectand input a sole color of desirable sandals, 4 denotes an upper colorselecting and inputting portion for a user to select and input an uppercolor of desirable sandals, 5 denotes a size selecting and inputtingportion for a user to select and input a size of desirable sandals, and6 denotes a compensation paying portion for a user to pay a purchaseprice for desirable sandals.

In addition, in FIG. 1, 7 denotes a screen display portion for making auser select a sole or upper type, color, size and the like of sandals, 8denotes a sole housing portion for housing a plurality of solesaccording to a plurality of colors and sizes, respectively (for example,a sole housing portion which has been divided into a plurality ofstoring sections so that a plurality of soles sorted according to colorsand sizes can be separately stored in the respective storing sections),9 denotes a sole pickup portion for picking up, out of the sole housingportion 8, soles of a color and size selected by a user (composed of,for example, a pickup mechanism for shifting to any of theaforementioned storing sections and picking up a pair of the solesstored therein), 10 denotes an upper housing portion for housing aplurality of uppers according to a plurality of colors, types, andsizes, respectively (for example, an upper housing portion which hasbeen divided into a plurality of storing sections so that a plurality ofuppers sorted according to colors, types, and sizes can be stored in therespective storing sections), and 11 denotes an upper pickup portion forpicking up, out of the upper housing portion 10, uppers of a color,type, and size selected by a user (composed of, for example, a pickupmechanism for shifting to any of the aforementioned storing sections andpicking up one of the uppers stored therein.)

In addition, in FIG. 1, 12 denotes an attaching mechanism for bondingand joining a sole picked up by the sole pickup portion 9 and an upperpicked up by the upper pickup portion 11 to each other (for example,pushing in leg portions (lower-end projecting portions) into a pluralityof holes formed in advance in the sole so as to be fixed), 13 denotes apacking portion for enclosing, after soles and uppers are bonded by theattaching mechanism portion 12 and sandals are manufactured, the sandalsin a container such as a plastic bag, and 14 denotes a sandal ejectingportion for shifting sandals enclosed in a container such as a plasticbag to a sandal ejecting portion into which a user can insert his/herhand to take out the same.

In addition, in FIG. 1, 15 denotes a control portion composed of amicrocomputer or the like for making the screen display portion 7display a predetermined image and characters, upon receiving an inputfrom the order start button, type selecting and inputting portion 2,sole color selecting and inputting portion 3, upper color selecting andinputting portion 4, size selecting and inputting portion 5, andcompensation paying portion 6, and also for controlling the sole pickupportion 9, upper pickup portion 11, attaching mechanism portion 12, andsandal ejecting portion 14. In addition, broken lines show flows ofsoles, uppers, and sandals in FIG. 1.

Next, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external appearance constructionof an automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according toEmbodiment 1. In Embodiment 1, respective blocks 1 to 15 of FIG. 1 areall incorporated in a housing 21 shown in FIG. 2 or are housed so that apart thereof is exposed on the external surface of the housing 21.

In FIG. 2, 21 denotes a housing, 22 denotes a liquid crystal displayprovided on an upper front of the housing 21, 23 denotes an order startbutton provided on the left of a center front of the housing 21, 24denotes four cursor keys radially arranged on the center front of thehousing 21, 25 denotes a select key provided on the center front (acentral position of the four radially arranged cursor keys) of thehousing 21, 26 denotes a compensation paying portion composed of a coinslot 26 a and a bill slot 26 b, and 27 denotes a sandal ejecting port(constructed so that a user can take out sandals by opening a cover)into which sandals manufactured in accordance with an order from a userare discharged.

Next, operations of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference toFIG. 3 and FIG. 4. First, when a user presses the order start button ofFIG. 2, the control portion 15 makes the liquid display 22 (see FIG. 2)display a “screen prompting the user to select and input an upper typeof sandals” as shown in FIG. 3( a). In the example of FIG. 3( a), twotypes of upper images of a horizontal belt-type upper 31 illustrated onthe left side and a upper 32 of a type illustrated on the right side aredisplayed to prompt a user to select either type. The user operates thecursor keys 24 and select key 25 (see FIG. 2) to select either selectbutton 31 a or 32 b on the screen corresponding to either upper. Herein,description will be continued for the following on the assumption thatthe user has selected the button 32 b corresponding to the thong-typeupper 32.

When the user has selected and inputted the thong-type upper 32 incompliance with the screen of FIG. 3( a), the control portion 15 makesthe liquid crystal display 22 display a “screen prompting the user toselect and input a sole color” as shown in FIG. 3( b). In the example ofFIG. 3( b), as illustrated, a sandal image 33 consisting of a sole andan upper and a total of ten select buttons 34 corresponding to a totalof ten colors, respectively, are displayed on the screen. When the useroperates the cursor keys 24 to reverse any color of the total of tenbuttons 34, a sole image 33 a in the image 33 is colored with the colorcorresponding to the reversed button 34. Accordingly, the user canselect a desirable color for soles while looking at the colored soleimage 33 a. Herein, description will be continued for the following onthe assumption that the user has selected, for example, pink for thesole color.

When the user has selected and inputted, for example, pink as a solecolor in compliance with the screen of FIG. 3( b), the control portion15 makes the liquid crystal display 22 display a “screen prompting theuser to select and input an upper (in this case, a thong-type upper)color” as shown in FIG. 3( c). In the example of FIG. 3( c), asillustrated, a sandal image 33 consisting of a sole and an upper and atotal of ten select buttons 35 corresponding to a total of ten colors,respectively, are displayed on the screen. When the user operates thecursor keys 24 to reverse any color of the total of ten buttons 35, anupper image 33 b in the image 33 is colored with the color correspondingto the reversed button 35. Accordingly, the user can select a desirablecolor for an upper while looking at the colored upper image. Herein,description will be continued for the following on the assumption thatthe user has selected, for example, pink for the upper color.

When the user has selected and inputted, for example, pink as an uppercolor in compliance with the screen of FIG. 3( c), the control portion15 makes the liquid crystal display 22 display a “screen prompting theuser to select and input a sandal size” as shown in FIG. 4( a). In theexample of FIG. 4( a), as illustrated, a sandal image 33 consisting of asole and an upper and a total of four select buttons 36 corresponding toa total of four sizes of S, M, L, and LL are displayed. The useroperates the cursor keys 24 and select key 25 to select any of the totalfour sizes. Herein, description will be continued for the following onthe assumption that the user has selected, for example, an S-size. Here,in Embodiment 1, in place of the size designations such as S, M, L, andLL, size designations such as “junior,” “lady,” and “men's” may be used.

When the user has selected and inputted, for example, an S-size incompliance with the screen of FIG. 4( a), the control portion 15calculates a sandal price based on the upper type, sole color, uppercolor, and size which the user has selected so far and makes the liquidcrystal display 22 display a “screen prompting the user to pay the priceby coins” as shown in FIG. 4(b).

Next, when the user pays bills or coins corresponding to the pricedisplayed on this screen into the compensation paying portion 26 (SeeFIG. 2), a signal indicating this fact is inputted from the compensationpaying portion 26 into the control portion 15. The control portion 15controls the sole pickup portion 9 and upper pickup portion 11 and makesthe same pick up soles of the color and size selected by the user anduppers of the type, color, and size selected by the user out of the solehousing portion 8 and the upper housing portion 9, respectively. As thismechanism for a pickup, although various mechanisms can be utilized,this can be performed by utilizing, for example, a conventional pickupmechanism for commodities utilized in a warehouse or the like.

Next, the control portion 15 controls the attaching mechanism portion 12so as to attach the picked-up upper (formed of a material such as foamor non-foam of a urethane resin, an EVA resin, a vinyl chloride resin, aTR-based (synthetic rubber) resin or the like to the picked-up sole(formed of a material such as foam or non-foam of a urethane resin, anEVA resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a TR-based (synthetic rubber) resinor the like.)

The attaching mechanism portion 12 is for attaching a thong-type upper41 as shown in FIG. 5 to a sole 45. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper 41 iscomposed of one axis portion 42 and two wing portions 43. At the lowerlend of the axis portion 42, a projecting portion 42 a for preventingthe lower end of the axis portion 42 from coming off after being fittedinto a hole 45 a of the sole 45 is integrally formed. In addition, atthe lower ends of the two wing portions 43, respectively, projectingportions 43 a for preventing the lower ends of the wing portions 43 fromcoming off after being fitted into holes 45 b of the sole 45 areintegrally formed.

The attaching mechanism portion 12 is constructed so as to attach theupper 41 to the sole 45 by fitting the projecting portion 42 a at thelower end of the axis portion 42 of the upper 41 and the projectingportions 43 a at the lower ends of the two wing portions 43 into thehole 45 a and two holes 45 b of the sole 45, respectively. Here,although this is not illustrated, on the rear surface of the sole 45,formed is a fitting concavity for preventing the projecting portions 42a and 43 a of the respective lower ends from protruding from the rearsurface of the sole 45 when the projecting portions 42 a and 43 a of therespective lower ends are fitted inside the respective holes 45 a and 45b.

Here, as for FIG. 5, although a description has been given for a casewhere the thong-type upper 41 was attached to the sole 45, in a casewhere a horizontal belt-type upper (see Reference numeral 31 of FIG. 3(a)) is attached to a sole, as well, operations almost identical to thoseare possible. Namely, in an example of FIG. 6( a), two projectingportions 46 a are formed on both ends of a horizontal belt-type upper46. These projecting portions 46 a are, as shown in a side view of FIG.6( a), projecting portions which have been formed on side surfaces ofboth ends of the upper 46 integrally with the upper 46. In addition,these projecting portions 46 a are for preventing the upper 46 fromcoming off after parts shown by Reference numeral 46 b (FIG. 6( b)) ofthe upper 46 are inserted into holes 47 b of a sole 47. In this exampleof FIG. 6( b), the upper 46 is attached to the sole 47 by fitting theprojecting portions 46 a and parts shown by Reference numeral 46 b (FIG.6( b)) of the upper 46 into two holes 47 b which have been formed inprojections 47 a of both side portions of the sole 47, respectively (seebroken lines of FIG. 6( a).)

In addition, in Embodiment 1, it is also possible to provide theattaching mechanism portion 12 with another construction. For example,it may be possible to compose the attaching mechanism portion 12 of amechanism for fitting respective projecting portions 42 a and 43 a ofthe respective lower ends of a thong-type upper 41 into holes 45 a and45 b of the sole 45 and a mechanism for applying, after this fitting, anadhesive to the rear surface of the sole 43 and an upper surface 50 a ofa shoe sole 50 and joining the same to each other (see FIG. 7.) In thiscase, the attaching mechanism portion 12, first, fits projectingportions 42 a and 43 a of the respective lower end of a thong-type upper41 into holes 45 a and 45 b of a sole 45, then, applies an adhesive tothe rear surface of the sole 45 and an upper surface 50 a of a shoe sole50, and adheres and joins the same to each other. Then, as a result ofsolidification of the adhesive after a predetermined time has elapsed inthis condition, an attachment of the upper 41 to the sole 45 and shoesole 50 ends.

Here, in this case, the sole housing portion 8 houses the soles 45 andthe shoe soles 50, as “a pair of sole sets,” while sorting the sameaccording to sizes and colors. In addition, the sole pickup portion 9picks up, out of the sole housing portion 8, soles 45 and shoe soles 50of a size and color selected by a user as “a pair of sole sets.”

In addition, in the foregoing case of FIG. 5, since the projectingportions 42 a and 43 a of the respective lower ends of the thong-typeupper 41 were simply fitted into the respective holes 45 a and 45 b ofthe sole 45, the projecting portions 42 a and 43 a of the respectivelower ends of the thong-type upper 41 have been exposed from the lowersurface of the sole 45. In contrast thereto, in the case of FIG. 7,since the shoe sole 50 is joined to the lower surface of the sole 45after the projecting portions 42 a and 43 a of the respective lower endsof the thong-type upper 41 are fitted into the respective holes 45 a and45 b of the sole 45, an exposure of the projecting portions 42 a and 43a of the respective lower ends of the thong-type upper 41 from the lowersurface of the sole 45 is eliminated.

Embodiment 2

Next, a construction of an automatic manufacturing-vending machine forsandals according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, identical Referencenumerals are used for parts common to those of FIG. 1. In Embodiment 2,a plurality of soles have been merely housed in the sole housing portion8 according to sizes and have not been sorted according to colors.Namely, the respective soles housed in the sole housing portion 8 havebeen all maintained with a color of a raw material before being coloredas it was (or have been colored white.) In addition, in the upperhousing portion 10, as well, a plurality of soles are merely housedaccording to types and sizes and are not sorted according to colors.Namely, the respective uppers housed in the upper housing portion 10 areall maintained with a color of a raw material before being colored as itwas (or have been colored white.)

In addition, in Embodiment 2, the sole pickup portion 9 picks up, out ofthe sole housing portion 8, soles of a size desired by a user, and thenconveys the same toward a sole coloring portion 16 by control of thecontrol portion 15. The sole coloring portion 16 colors, by control ofthe control portion 15, the soles from the sole pickup portion 9 with adesirable color (see FIG. 3( b)) selected by the user. Namely, the solecoloring portion 16 is equipped with a total of ten color paints asshown in FIG. 3( b) in advance, and this sprays and applies, based on asignal from the control portion 15, a paint of the color selected by theuser to the upper surfaces (or upper surfaces and side surfaces) of theconveyed and arrived soles by a sprayer or the like, and then rotates afan to dry the paint within a short time.

In addition, in Embodiment 2, the upper pickup portion 10 picks up, outof the upper housing portion 10, uppers of a type and size desired by auser, and then conveys the same toward an upper coloring portion 16 bycontrol of the control portion 15. The upper coloring portion 17 colors,by control of the control portion 15, the uppers from the upper pickupportion 11 with a desirable color (see FIG. 3( c)) selected by the user.Namely, the upper coloring portion 17 is provided with a total of tencolor paints as shown in FIG. 3( c) in advance, and this sprays andapplies, based on a signal from the control portion 15, a paint of thecolor selected by the user to the whole surfaces of the conveyed andarrived uppers by a sprayer or the like, and then rotates a fan(unillustrated) to dry the paint within a short time.

The soles which have been colored by the sole coloring portion 16 andthe uppers which have been colored by the upper coloring portion 17 are,by control of the control portion 16, conveyed to the attachingmechanism portion 12, and therein assembled and finished into sandals.Since the construction and operations of Embodiment 2 excluding theabove construction and operations are identical to those of Embodiment2, description thereof is omitted.

Embodiment 3

Next, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, identical Reference numerals are usedfor parts common to those of FIG. 1. In Embodiment 3, a beltlike-bodyhousing portion 18 is equipped in place of the sole housing portion 8(see FIG. 1) of the aforementioned Embodiment 1. In this beltlike-bodyhousing portion 18, beltlike bodies with predetermined thickness andwidth dimensions which are made of a raw material for soles (rawmaterial such as a urethane resin or an EVA resin) and which have beenrolled in roll forms (see Reference numeral 51 of FIG. 10( a)) arerespectively housed according to, for example, ten colors.

In addition, in Embodiment 3, a beltlike-body cutout portion 19 (seeFIG. 9) is equipped in place of the sole pickup portion 9 (see FIG. 1)of Embodiment 3. This beltlike-body cutout portion 19 draws out, basedon a signal from the control portion 15, a front-end part 51 a of arolled beltlike body 51 having a color the same as the sole color (seeFIG. 3( b)) selected by the user, out of the total of ten color-by-colorbeltlike bodies housed in the beltlike-body housing portion 18, by apredetermined length, and furthermore, selects and uses a cutting die(unillustrated) corresponding to a sole form of the size (see FIG. 4(a)) selected by the user to die-cut (cuts out) the drawn-out beltlikebody so as to obtain soles 52 in a desirable form. Namely, thebeltlike-body cutout portion 19 is provided with a total of four typesof cutting dies respectively corresponding to sole forms of a total offour sizes of S, M, L, and LL in advance, and die-cuts (cuts outs),based on a signal from the control portion 15, the front-end part 51 aof the rolled beltlike body 51 drawn out of the beltlike-body housingportion 18 by a predetermined length by use of a cutting diecorresponding to a sole form of the size selected by the user.

Next, an example of sandal manufacturing processes by this beltlike-bodycutout portion 19 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10.First, as shown in FIG. 10( a), a line 51 b showing a sole form of asize selected by a user is virtually formed (positioned) on thefront-end part 51 a of a beltlike body, and with reference thereto,three holes 51 c are cut out by a cutting die. Next, as shown in FIG.10( b), into the three holes 51 c, front-end projecting portions (seeReference numerals 42 a and 43 a of FIG. 5) of the axis portion and wingportions of a thong 52 are fitted (inserted). Next, as shown in FIG. 10(c), the beltlike body is cut along the virtual line 51 b showing anexternal form of the sole by a cutting die (see cut out line 51 c ofFIG. 10( c)). Thereby, sandals 53 wherein uppers have been attached tosoles are formed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10( c), the front-end part 51 a is cut ata cutting line 51 d, whereby only a rectangular part including thesandals 53 is separated from the rolled beltlike body 51. Then, thefront-end part 51 a (including the sandals 53) of the beltlike body cutat the cutting line 51 d as shown in FIG. 10( d) is enclosed in acontainer such as a plastic bag by the packing portion (see FIG. 9), andthis is shifted by the sandal ejecting portion 14 to the sandaldischarge port 27 (see FIG. 2.)

The user takes the “front-end part 51 a of the beltlike-body includingthe sandals 53” (enclosed in a container such as a bag) out of thesandal ejecting portion 27, and further takes only the part of thesandals 53 out of the front-end port 51 a to use the same as sandals(the remaining part of the front-end part 51 a is disposed of.) Sincethe construction and operations of Embodiment 3 are the same as those ofEmbodiment 1, description thereof is omitted.

Here, in the respective embodiments in the above, the coin slot 26 a andbill slot 26 b have been exemplified as a compensation paying portion 6,however, the present invention is not limited hereto, and for example,the cost for sandals may be paid by making a reader mounted on anautomatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals read out, in contactor out of contact, electronic money information accumulated in an ICcard or a personal digital assistant or may be employed, or the cost forsandals may be settled through a user's bank account by use of apersonal digital assistant such as a portable telephone andcommunications lines.

In addition, in the present invention, in place of the “screen promptingthe user to select and input a sole color” as shown in FIG. 3( b), a“screen prompting the user to select and input an image (character orpattern) which he/she wishes to print on the upper surfaces of soles”(that is, a screen to display a plurality of image (character orpattern) candidates on the liquid crystal display 22 and allows the userto select and input what he/she wishes) may be displayed. And, in thepresent invention, in place of coloring soles by the sole coloringportion 16 of FIG. 8 (Embodiment 2), the image may be printed by aprinter for printing an image (character or pattern) selected andinputted by a user on the “screen prompting the user to select and inputan image (character or pattern) which he/she wishes to print on theupper surfaces of soles. In addition, in the present invention, a usermay further make the automatic manufacturing-vending machine read in anarbitrary image such as a face image of his/her own or his/her friendand print the read-in image on the upper surfaces of soles by theprinter so that the user can manufacture original sandals.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As has been described above, according to an automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to the presentinvention, by attaching uppers of a size, type, or color desired by auser to soles of a size or color desired by the user, it becomespossible to provide the user with sandals desired by the userimmediately on the spot. Namely, in the present invention, it becomespossible to manufacture and sell a user who needs sandals on a bathingbeach or pool sandals of a size, type, or color desired by the userimmediately on the spot.

In addition, in the present invention, if soles or uppers areimmediately colored with a color desired by a user inside an automaticsandal manufacturing-vending machine upon a payment by the user, sinceit becomes unnecessary to store soles or uppers according to a pluralityof colors in plurality, respectively, the quantity of stock of soles oruppers to be stored inside the automatic sandal manufacturing-vendingmachine can be reduced, thus it becomes possible to lower themanufacturing and selling cost for sandals.

In addition, in the present invention, if an image (character orpattern) selected by a user or an original image (character or pattern)for which a user has made an automatic sandal manufacturing-vendingmachine read out is printed on the soles of a size selected by the user,since it becomes unnecessary to store soles according to a plurality ofcharacters or patterns in plurality, respectively, the quantity of stockof soles to be stored inside the automatic sandal manufacturing-vendingmachine can be reduced, thus it becomes possible to lower themanufacturing and selling cost for sandals. Moreover, in particular,when an original image (a character, a pattern, a photo or the like) forwhich a user has made an automatic sandal manufacturing-vending machineread out is printed on soles, it becomes possible for the user tomanufacture and obtain his/her original sandals.

In addition, in the present invention, if beltlike bodies to be a rawmaterial from which soles are to be cut out have been housed inside anautomatic sandal manufacturing-vending machine and soles so that solesimmediately cut out from the beltlike body into forms of a size desiredby a user inside the automatic sandal manufacturing-vending machine upona payment by the user, since it becomes unnecessary to store a largenumber of soles inside the automatic sandal manufacturing-vendingmachine, the quantity of stock of soles to be stored inside theautomatic sandal manufacturing-vending machine can be reduced, thus itbecomes possible to lower the manufacturing and selling cost forsandals.

1. An automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals comprising: asole housing portion housing a plurality of soles for sandals accordingto a plurality of sizes; a sole pickup portion for picking up soles of apredetermined size out of the plurality of soles housed in the solehousing portion; an upper housing portion housing a plurality of uppersfor sandals according to a plurality of sizes; an upper pickup portionfor picking up uppers of a predetermined size out of the plurality ofuppers housed in the upper housing portion; a size selecting portion fora user to select a desirable size of soles and uppers; a compensationpaying portion for a user to pay compensation for manufacturing andvending desirable sandals; a control means for controlling the solepickup portion and the upper pickup portion so as to pick up soles anduppers of a size selected by a user out of the sole housing portion andthe upper housing portion, respectively, based on a signal from the sizeselecting portion or the compensation inputting portion; an attachingmechanism portion for attaching the picked-up uppers to the picked-upsoles based on a signal from the control means of the compensationpaying portion; and a sandal ejecting portion for ejecting sandalsformed by attaching the uppers to the soles by the attaching mechanismportion into a sandal takeout opening from which a user can take out thesame, wherein the sole housing portion, the upper housing portion, thesole pickup portion, the upper pickup portion, the attaching mechanismportion, and the sandal ejecting portion are housed in one housing. 2.An automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals comprising: asole housing portion housing a plurality of soles for sandals accordingto a plurality of sizes; a sole pickup portion for picking up soles of apredetermined size out of the plurality of soles housed in the solehousing portion; an upper housing portion housing a plurality of uppersfor sandals according to a plurality of sizes and a plurality of types;an upper pickup portion for picking up uppers of a predetermined sizeand type out of the plurality of uppers housed in the upper housingportion; a size and type selecting portion for a user to select adesirable size and type of soles and uppers; a compensation payingportion for a user to pay compensation for manufacturing and vendingdesirable sandals; a control means for controlling the sole pickupportion and the upper pickup portion so as to pick up soles of a sizeselected by a user out of the sole housing portion and pick up uppers ofa size and type selected by a user from the upper housing portion basedon a signal from the size and type selecting portion or the compensationinputting portion; an attaching mechanism portion for attaching thepicked-up uppers to the picked-up soles based on a signal from thecontrol means of the compensation paying portion; and a sandal ejectingportion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the solesby the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeout opening fromwhich a user can take out the same, wherein the sole housing portion,the upper housing portion, the sole pickup portion, the upper pickupportion, the attaching mechanism portion, and the sandal ejectingportion are housed in one housing.
 3. An automatic manufacturing-vendingmachine for sandals comprising: a sole housing portion housing aplurality of soles for sandals according to a plurality of sizes and aplurality of colors; a sole pickup portion for picking up soles of apredetermined size and color out of the plurality of soles housed in thesole housing portion; an upper housing portion housing a plurality ofuppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes and a plurality ofcolors; an upper pickup portion for picking up upper portions of apredetermined size and color out of the plurality of uppers housed inthe upper housing portion; a size and color selecting portion for a userto select a desirable size and color of soles and uppers; a compensationpaying portion for a user to pay compensation for manufacturing andvending desirable sandals; a control means for controlling the solepickup portion and the upper pickup portion so as to pick up soles anduppers of a size and color selected by a user out of the sole housingportion and the upper housing portion, respectively, based on a signalfrom the size and color selecting portion or the compensation inputtingportion; an attaching mechanism portion for attaching the picked-upuppers to the picked-up soles based on a signal from the control meansof the compensation paying portion; and a sandal ejecting portion forejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers to the soles by theattaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeout opening from which auser can take out the same, wherein the sole housing portion, the upperhousing portion, the sole pickup portion, the upper pickup portion, theattaching mechanism portion, and the sandal ejecting portion are housedin one housing.
 4. An automatic manufacturing-vending machine forsandals comprising: a beltlike-body housing portion housing beltlikebodies for forming soles for sandals of a plurality of sizes; an upperhousing portion housing a plurality of uppers for sandals according to aplurality of sizes; an upper pickup portion for picking up uppers of apredetermined size out of the plurality of uppers housed in the upperhousing portion; a sole size selecting portion for a user to select adesirable size of soles; an upper size selecting portion for a user toselect a desirable size of uppers; a compensation paying portion for auser to pay compensation for manufacturing and vending desirablesandals; a cutout portion for cutting out a beltlike body from thebeltlike-body housing portion into forms of the size of soles selectedby a user; a control means for controlling the upper pickup portion soas to pick up uppers of a size selected by a user out of the upperhousing portion based on a signal from the upper size selecting portionor the compensation inputting portion; an attaching mechanism portionfor attaching uppers picked up out of the upper housing portion to solescut out by the cutout portion based on a signal from the cutout portion,the control portion, or the compensation paying portion; and a sandalejecting portion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers tothe soles by the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeoutopening from which a user can take out the same, wherein thebeltlike-body housing portion, the upper housing portion, the upperpickup portion, the cutout portion, the attaching mechanism portion, andthe sandal ejecting portion are housed in one housing.
 5. An automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals comprising: a beltlike-bodyhousing portion housing beltlike bodies for forming soles for sandals ofa plurality of sizes and types; an upper housing portion housing aplurality of uppers for sandals according to a plurality of sizes and aplurality of types; an upper pickup portion for picking up uppers of apredetermined size and type out of the plurality of uppers housed in theupper housing portion; a size and type selecting portion for a user toselect a desirable size of soles and a desirable size and type ofuppers; a compensation paying portion for a user to pay compensation formanufacturing and vending desirable sandals; a cutout portion forcutting out a beltlike body from the beltlike-body housing portion intoforms of the size of soles selected by a user based on a signal from thesize and type selecting portion or the compensation inputting portion; acontrol means for controlling the upper pickup portion so as to pick upuppers of a size and type selected by a user out of the upper housingportion based on a signal from the size and type selecting portion orthe compensation inputting portion; an attaching mechanism portion forattaching uppers picked up out of the upper housing portion to soles cutout by the cutout portion based on a signal from the cutout portion, thecontrol portion, or the compensation paying portion; and a sandalejecting portion for ejecting sandals formed by attaching the uppers tothe soles by the attaching mechanism portion into a sandal takeoutopening from which a user can take out the same, wherein thebeltlike-body housing portion, the upper housing portion, the upperpickup portion, the cutout portion, the attaching mechanism portion, andthe sandal ejecting portion are housed in one housing.
 6. The automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to claim 1 or 2,further provided with: a sole color selecting portion for a user toselect a desirable sole color; an upper color selecting portion for auser to select a desirable upper color; a sole coloring portion forcoloring, based on a signal from the sole color selecting portion, solesselectively picked out of the sole housing portion with a color selectedby a user; and an upper coloring portion for coloring, based on a signalfrom the upper color selecting portion, uppers selectively picked out ofthe upper housing portion with a color selected by a user.
 7. Theautomatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to claim1, 2, or 3 further provided with: a sole image forming portion for auser to select or externally import a desirable print image of soles;and a sole printing portion for printing an image selected by a user onsoles selectively picked out of the sole housing portion based on asignal from the sole image forming portion.
 8. The automaticmanufacturing-vending machine for sandals according to claim 4 or 5further provided with: a sole color selecting portion for a user toselect a desirable sole color; an upper color selecting portion for auser to select a desirable upper color; a sole coloring portion forcoloring, based on a signal from the sole color selecting portion, solesselectively picked out of the sole housing portion or soles obtained bybeing cut out from the beltlike-body by the cutout portion with a colorselected by a user; and an upper coloring portion for coloring, based ona signal from the upper color selecting portion, uppers selectivelypicked out of the upper housing portion with a color selected by a user.9. The automatic manufacturing-vending machine for sandals according toany of claims 1 to 5 further provided with: in the housing, a displayportion for displaying images to serve a user in selecting a sole color,an upper color, or an upper type.